The Dormition Fast precedes the Assumption of Mary, marked on 15 August.
On the first day of the fast, 1 August, water is blessed in church. In Eastern Orthodoxy the Dormition Fast is connected with veneration of the Mother of God and is very strict, similar to Lent. Only on the Feast of the Transfiguration, 6 August is fish allowed. The fast continues until 14 August.
In today’s world, where material values overshadow the spiritual, reflections on the salvation of souls somehow remain in the background. The constant race against time and the stream of daily tasks muffle the voice of the soul, which struggles to..
In 1018, after half a century of struggle, the First Bulgarian Empire was conquered by Byzantium. Despite the many uprisings of the Bulgarians, the power of Constantinople lasted for nearly two centuries. In the autumn of 1185 or the..
On 19 October, Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski, also known as St John of Rila, who is considered the country’s heavenly protector. He founded the Rila Monastery, which is the largest and most influential spiritual centre in Bulgaria. Ivan..
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